Leroy Allen Carsrud
May 30, 1949 ~ April 22, 2012
Funeral services will be held at 1 pm, Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Swedona Covenant Church, rural Brandon, with Pastor David Stene officiating. Interment will follow at the Swedona Covenant Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will begin at 3 pm, Friday, April 27, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon, until 7 pm. Family will be present from 5 until 7 pm.
Leroy Allan Carsrud was born May 30, 1949, in Sioux Falls, SD. He was adopted by his parents, Walter and Ellen (Nordstrom) Carsrud of Brandon and was raised on the farm outside of Brandon. He graduated from Brandon High School in 1967 and enlisted in the US Navy in 1968. He served in Viet Nam and continued on for 20 years. He was stationed in several countries including Okinawa, Japan, and Guam. Leroy was also commemorated with sailing over the equator during his service. On April 27, 1971, Leroy married Chiko Komine while stationed in Okinawa. They had two sons, Dana and Aaron, while traveling the world. Upon retiring in 1988, Leroy continued to work privately on airplanes as a mechanic in Guam. In 1992, he moved back to South Dakota and began working in Sioux Falls at Hutchinson Tech and then in 1996, he and Chiko, moved to Canton, SD. Leroy began working for Coilcraft in Hawarden, IA, manufacturing machines that made transistors for cell phones.
Leroy was a musician. He was known to play the congas and a trumpet in different bands. Leroy was also a diehard Nascar fan and collected anything and everything he found, especially Dale Earnhardt Jr. material.
Sadly, Leroy, 62, residing in Canton, SD, died Sunday, April 22, 2012, at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Leroy is survived by his wife, Chiko, two sons; Dana, Seattle, WA and Aaron (Glenda) of Minot, ND, one granddaughter; Kristen, one sister; Cheryl (Richard) Erickson Brandon, and many nieces and nephews.
Leroy was preceded in death by his parents.
We are very sorry for your loss. We enjoyed many conversations with Lee. He was
a good person. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
I’m very sorry to read of LeRoy’s passing. My father was pastor of the Swedona Church where the Carsruds attended and LeRoy and I attended grade school together at Pleasantview school. I played with LeRoy and his sister Cheryl many times at their farm. My thoughts and prayers are with the family as they grieve his loss. I haven’t seen him for many, many years but he sounded like a wonderful man who loved his family.
Kathy Hansen Krogh
I was stationed with Leroy in the early 1980’s at the Naval Air Station in San Diego. I was just starting my career in the Navy and Leroy was a mentor and role model for me. He always looked out for the welfare of the junior sailors and set the example. I am sorry for your loss. He was a true “shipmate” and helped mold me as a young sailor. I just discovered this notice of his passing today (July 2, 2014). I have not seen Leroy or spoken to him since 1983 or 1984. I will always remember him for his leadership and guidance. I thank him for his service to our Nation and the US Navy.
Respectfully,
Richard Wert, SOCM USN(ret)